Captive typewriter eraser



Jan. 8, 1935. J. HART CAPTIVE TYPEWRITER ERASER Filed Aug. 5. 1935 INVENTOR Lou/s a/f/AE BY/ AT'roRNi-:\'(s

WITNESS:

Patented Jan. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES 1,987,476 7 OA-PTIVE 'TYPEWRITEB 'ERASER Louis J. Hart, New York, N. Y.

ApplicationAugust 5,

3 Claims.

This invention relates toimprovements in typewriter erasers, and more particularly to a means for captively connecting such an eraser to a key of a typewriting machine.

raphers, and others during the operation of a typewriter, to misplace the typewriter eraser, or accidentally drop the same. In addition to such annoyance, much time is lost in reaching and picking up the eraser, or in locating and retrieving a misplaced one. Therefore, the main object of this invention resides in a means by which an eraser may be captively connected to one of the lower end keys of a typewriting machine to be convenient and readily accessible at all times for use.

Another feature of the invention is to attach one end of a relatively short length of flexible elastic element to the typewriter eraser and to form an attaching loop or eye at the other end of the elastic element whereby the elastic element may be stretched to enable the eraser to reach the matter to be erased, and when released, the elastic element will automatically retract and hang as a short length from the key to which it is attached.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide a captive typewriter eraser which is simple of construction, and inexpensive of manufacture, and which will permit of the disposal of the entire article when the eraser has become entirely w'orn away.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the certain novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, the essential features of which are hereinafter fully described, are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved typewriter eraser attached to the shift key of a typewriting machine.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the eraser device per se.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary edge elevational view with the eraser in cross section.

Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional line on the line 4--4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view on the 50 line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, the numeral designates my improved eraser device in its entirety, and which includes a flexible elastic element 11 which in the present instance is shown as being tubular in cross sec It is a common annoyance to typists, stenog-- 1933, Serial No. 683,725 (01. 120 3e) tion and constructed of rubber. One of the ends of the elastic element 11 is looped and fastened by a metal clip 12 to-form an expansible attaching eye 13.

Carried by the other end of the elastic element 11 is a circular disk eraser 14 of the conventional construction which comprises a rubber body 15 having side plates or disks 16 secured against opposite sides of the body by an eyelet or grommet 1'7. The grommet or eyelet is disposed centrally of the disk 16 and the rubber eraser body 15. One end of the elastic element 11 is inserted through the opening in the eyelet l7 and is looped under stretched tension and secured by a metal clip 18 in a manner similar to the construction for forming the attaching eye 13 as seen in Fig. 3 of the drawing. The metal clips 12 and 18 have their free ends bent inwardly as at 19 and as best seen in Figure 5 of the drawing so as to avoid any sharp edges which might be injurious to the hands of an operator during the use of the article. The portion of the loop passing through the eyelet 17 constitutes a pivotal axis for .the circular eraser 14 to enable the same to be turned during wearing away of the periphery when in use. The eraser is held against accidental turning by the tension of the loop with which the periphery of the eraser engages.

In Figure 1 of the drawing, I have illustrated my eraser device as being attached to the shift key bar A of a typewriting machine B. In attaching the device, the eye 13 is expanded to fit over the head of the key, and after passing thereover, the eye contracts and assumes the position shown in the drawing. It will thus be seen that with the device hanging from the shift key in the manner shown in Figure l, the eraser 14 is readily accessible to the operator of the machine. In use, the eraser 14 is grasped by the operator and the elastic element 11 stretched a sufficient distance to reach the matter to be erased from the paper contained in the typewriting machine. Upon release of the eraser while the element 11 is in a stretched condition, the elastic element will return to a normal contracted position and hang from the shift key in the form of a relatively short length.

By reason of the simplicity of construction, the eraser devices may be manufactured at an exceptionally low cost, and the entire article disposed of when the eraser 14 has become worn down.

Although I have shown and described the elastic element 11 as being in the form of a rubber tube, I wish it to be understood that any other form of elastic may be used in lieu thereof. I prefer the construction shown and described, due to its strength and wearing qualities and high degree of elasticity.

While I have shown and described what I deem to be the most practical embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that such changes that come within the scope of the appended claims maybe resortedtoif desired. c

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:-

1. An eraser device for typewriters comprisin an elastic element, the opposite ends of said elastic element being looped, and clips securing the looped ends of the elastic elements .in looped formation, one of the looped ends adapted tg pass through the central openings of a cirular'eraser whilethe other loop constitutes an expansible eyefoi attachment to the key ofa typewriter. a

'2. An eraser'dev'ice'for typewriters comprising "and fixedly attached to a support, the other end of "said elastic element extending through said opening and looped upon itself, means securing the lo'ope'd portion in looped formation under :s'tretchedtension to cause opposite ends of the loop toengage the outer periphery of said eraser and the inner wall of said opening, whereby to wprevent, accide r r cal turning of said eraser relative to said looped portion. a I V '7 LOUIS J. HART. 

